The scholars are in consensus that the Imam combines the Dhuhr and Asr prayers at Arafah, as do those who pray with the Imam. Our companions mentioned that combining is not permissible except for those whose distance from their homeland is sixteen farsakhs, analogizing it to the shortening of prayer (qasr). This is incorrect, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) combined [the prayers], and those who were present with him—from the Meccans and others—also combined them. He did not order them to refrain from combining, as he had ordered them to refrain from shortening when he said: "Complete your prayer, for we are a traveling party" (11). Had combining been prohibited, he would have clarified it for them, since it is not permissible to delay clarification beyond the time of need, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would not have condoned an error. Uthman used to complete his prayer (itmam) because he had established a family [there], yet he did not cease from combining. [And Ibn al-Zubayr was in Makkah] (12). Ibn Abi Mulaykah said: Ibn al-Zubayr used to teach us the rituals (manasik). He mentioned that he said: "When one departs, there is no prayer except by combining." Narrated by al-Athram. Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was the governor of Makkah, and he went out and combined the two prayers. It has not reached us from any of the predecessors that there was any disagreement regarding combining at Arafah and Muzdalifah; rather, even those who do not view combining as permissible elsewhere agreed upon it here. The truth is what they have reached a consensus upon, and one should not pay attention (13) to anything else.

Section: As for the shortening of the prayer, it is not permissible for the people of Makkah. This is the opinion of Ata, Mujahid, al-Zuhri, Ibn Jurayj, al-Thawri, Yahya al-Qattan, al-Shafi'i, the People of Opinion (Ashab al-Ra'y), and Ibn al-Mundhir. Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad, Salim, Malik, and al-Awza'i said: They are permitted to shorten, because since they are permitted to combine, they are permitted to shorten just like others. Our position is that they are not on a long journey, so they are not permitted to shorten, unlike others who are in (14) Arafah and Muzdalifah. It was said to Abu Abd Allah (Imam Ahmad): A man resided in Makkah, then went out for Hajj? He said: If he does not intend to reside in Makkah when he returns, he prays two rak'ahs there. He mentioned the action of Ibn Umar. He said: Because his exit to Mina and Arafah is the beginning of a journey, for if